Long story, but here goes..

Fast burn 385 with a CS 130 Alternator. New custom wiring harness for the alt and HEI (uses the horn relay). Car worked, cranked everything electrical worked. I pulled the driver valve cover and like a moron didn't disconnect the positive batt pole. Needless to say I hit the hot lead on the alternator with the valve cover. A little smoke, and now I have nothing electrical. No lights, no key buzzer, no nothing. I checked the fuses and nothing was burned. Batt has 12 volts coming across it. Where do I look next?

Does a 68 have the terminal block behind the battery like a 69? Maybe fried the wire going to it.

yes there is a block behind the batt. I will check that.

yes, the terminal block is there.

With a little luck, the fusible link on the battery cable blew. Yes, that little pigtail that is part of the battery cabnle, that goes to the junction block, is, or is supposed to be a fusible link. It certainly is on my repro spring ring cables. Not so sure about the autoparts store ones that come with a 6" lead and a crimp connector.

That would be the place to start tho. It's in front of the battery, gotta at least move the battery to see it.

From there, power goes to the main splice, which connects to the alternator, regulator, and horn relay.

See the "what it is, Where it is" sticky in electrical for pics and details.

If you have a fusible link going to the junction block from the battery, you may have to ohm it out as it might not be evident that it's bad. If you don't have a meter, clip a wire to the pos side of battery and clip other end to the junction block connection. Then see if you have pwr again.

just an update. The pigtail from the Pos battery cable to the junction block was burned.

just an update. The pigtail from the Pos battery cable to the junction block was burned.
Be sure to replace it with a fusible link, not just regular wire. a fusible link is made to burn in case of major short, if regular wire is used the harness will melt if you ever have another major short.